Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1887-03-03


Our object in addressing you
through the newspapers is, first, that
we fear an uneasiness is existing in
the minds of some of the stockhold-
ers of said Company in regard to the
management of their affairs, through
their representatives; that we, as
guardians of their interests are too
slow in bringing into effect the object
of the organization, or at least, not
making as rapid strides as was antic-
ipated by them in developing the en-
terprise. But we assure you, in all
candor, that we have been and are
continuing to do all that lies within
our power for ultimate success,
which our tri-weekly meetings should
show. First of all, after the organi-
zstion, one-half of the amount of
money had to be raised, which re-
quired considerable time, and when
we had succeeded in that, the next
and most important matter was to
secure leases of lands surrounding
and adjacent to Mexico, and IN this,
We are sorry to confess, the process
OF procuring said leases is slow.
1t was the object of this Board to
arrange and so word our leases which
we formulated that there could be no
objection by either the land owner or
the Mining Company; we were actu-
ated by spirit of fairness that would
guarantee justice to all, and, among
other things, in this lease we agree
to execute and experiment on all
lands leased within one year or the
same to become void. A failure of
the land owners to see the import
ance of this matter should not rest or
reflect on this Board. Neither does
this Board presume to dictate to said
land owners what they should do, or
censure them in the slightest man
ner for their refusalt so lease their
lands, but it will most assuredly have
the effect to stop an experiment. that
might have proved blessing to our
whole people. The question is asked
Why require so much territory ?
There are many answers. In the first
place, were we to find gas or oil, in
any large quantities, we would have
to ask for assistance to utilize it, and
it would require almost unbounded
capital for that purpose; the laying
of pipes, erecting tanks, &C., &c.
Suppose we were limited in oul
territory, or so hampered that said
pipes or transportation of any kind
were at the mercy Of Unbiased terrific.
ry, in reaching depot or some place
vital to its existence, then you could
not induce capital to take hold Of it.
In all places where an entire people
has been enriched by such discov
cries, they secure not less than $4,000
acres in one body. We fail to Sc.
where this will work an injury to any
one, for in case of success, the lane
owners, of all others, are the one!
most benefited, and, in our opinion
should this enterprise fail, no private
individual will push to successful op
Grafton what we. as a corporation
could not do, after raising sum o
$4,000 for this specific purpose, ant
almost one-third of this amount sub
scrlbed by stranger to our people
Do not understand that we are il
any way debating to the owners
land, as to Whist their interests are, bu
we certainly feel that if we shall eve
know what underlies our country
they must yield to the company thi
small request, and failure now seem
to mean failure for all time, and W
remain in future, as in the past,
blissfuI ignorance as to our hidde
wealth. One thing, we all feel assul
ed Of, and in which our conscience
=, perfectly clear, is the fact that "
t have carefully guarded the interest
: of the stockholders and in every wa
: in our power, done our full duty.
III. A. RICKETTS,,
RUFUS HIsEY,
A. c. BARNES,
=, c. F. CLARK,
0 J. G. BAssFoRD,